Regulations for reading rooms at the Faculty of Law

Adopted by the Faculty Board on 26 April 2005 in accordance with the majority proposal from the Law Students Commettee (JSU). Last amended by the Faculty Board on 12 December 2023.

Section 1 Area of application for these regulations 

The regulations apply to all reading rooms at the University of Bergen’s Faculty of Law, as well as to other reading rooms at the disposal of students at the Faculty of Law.

Section 2 General regulations – open reading rooms

The reading rooms at the Faculty of Law are open to all students at the faculty with the exceptions stated in these regulations. As a general rule, the first student to use a study space in a reading room is entitled to use that study space for the rest of the day. Students who are unable to show a valid semester receipt may be asked to leave.

When a student leaves a study space for more than two hours, the study space will be tidied and other students at the faculty may use the study space for the rest of the day. After the end of the day, the study space must be tidied, cf. Section 3.

Section 3 Exceptions for students in their first year of study

Reading rooms No. 12, 13, 14 and 15 are reserved for students in their first year of study. The reservation is valid until 09:00 every day. Study spaces not used by 09:00 can be freely used by other students for the rest of the day.

Section 4 Exceptions for students writing a master’s thesis

JUS399: Reading room No. 8 is reserved for students working on JUS399 Master’s Thesis. The reservation is valid until 09:00 every day. Study spaces not used by 09:00 can be freely used by other students for the rest of the day.

JUS397: Reading room No. 305 (Dragefjellet) is reserved for students working on JUS397 Master’s Thesis. Other students are not permitted to use this reading room.

JUS396: Students working on JUS396 Master’s Thesis (60 credits) may, upon application, be granted a permanent study space in a reading room.

Section 5 Use and tidying

When a study space in a reading room is no longer in use, cf. Section 2, it must be tidied, with the exceptions stated in sections 5 and 6. Tidying involves the removal of all personal belongings from the chair, table top, the wall surrounding the desk, the bookshelf and the study space itself.

The users of reading rooms must behave in such a way that they do not disturb other reading room users.

The reading rooms should be quiet. Talking or whispering is not permitted. Eating food in reading rooms is not permitted. The use of electronic equipment that may disturb other users is not permitted. The Faculty of Law may remove items left behind that are in breach of Section 3. The regulations stipulated in this section apply correspondingly to study spaces that are reserved pursuant to Section 6 below.

Section 6 Reserved places upon application

Students with special needs may apply to the Faculty of Law for a reserved study space in a reading room.

The study spaces are allocated by the Faculty of Law upon application by students who can, in order of priority, document:

1. a special medical requirement, or

2. sole custody and care of young children.

Persons allocated a reserved study space in accordance with this section may store personal belongings and equipment in the study space when it is not in use. This type of storage is only permitted on the bookshelf above the desk. 

The reservation is valid until 10:00 every day. If the study space is not used by 10:00, it may be freely used by other students for the rest of the day. Stored items should therefore not be a nuisance to other users of the study space.

Applications for a reserved study space are to be submitted to the Faculty of Law. Students will be given a reservation tag that must be secured in a clearly visible place on the wall surrounding the desk. 

Section 7 Abuse of rights

The right to a reserved study space may be revoked by the Faculty of Law if a person abuses said right. The same applies if a student has obtained a study space reservation on false grounds.

The Faculty of Law may also revoke a student’s right to a reserved study space for subsequent semesters. In the event of repeated breaches of the regulations, the right to a reserved study space may be permanently revoked. Decisions made pursuant to this section may be appealed to the Faculty Director.

Section 8 Amendments to the regulations

Amendments to these regulations are made by the Faculty of Law Board.